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Re: [softrock40] Re: Original SoftRock-40

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Ross Stenberg

We could call it Tony s Dongle or a Soft Dongle if you prefer.

Message 1 of 22
, Dec 2, 2011

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We could call it Tony's Dongle or a Soft Dongle if you prefer.

--- In softrock40@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Parks" <kb9yig@...> wrote:
>> Good Morning All,
>>
>> Several have recently expressed an interest in the original SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power form the USB port.
>>
>> Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the board.
>>
>> Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there is enough interest, I will give it a try.
>>
>> Thanks and 73,
>> Tony KB9YIG
>>

Several have recently expressed an interest in the original SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power form the USB port.

Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the board.

Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there is enough interest, I will give it a try.

Several have recently expressed an interest in the
original SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power
form the USB port.

Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the
5 volt regulator circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board
and the antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the
board.

Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit?
If there is enough interest, I will give it a try.

Thanks and
73,Tony KB9YIG

Tony Parks

A couple additional thoughts... If a new SoftRock-40 kit is done, the design would mostly be SMT for resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. Probably the

Message 4 of 22
, Dec 2, 2011

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A couple additional thoughts...

If a new SoftRock-40 kit is done, the design would mostly be SMT for resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. Probably the only non-SMT components would be the crystal, inductor and transformer. (Inductor and transformer would continue to be user wound on toroid cores.)

A two foot long stereo audio cable would be included in the kit where the cable would have a 3.5mm plug on one end. A two foot long length of coax cable would also be included in the kit.

Kit price would depend on the number of crystals to be included but probably would be around $23 with crystals for 160m through 20m.

Several have recently expressed an interest in the original SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power form the USB port.

Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the board.

Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there is enough interest, I will give it a try.

Several have recently expressed an interest in the original SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power form the USB port.

Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the board.

Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there is enough interest, I will give it a try.

Thanks and 73,Tony KB9YIG

lmarion@mt.net

I m sure I would want a few at least......... Leroy ... This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

> Good Morning All,
>
> Several have recently expressed an interest in the original
> SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC
> power form the USB port.
>
> Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator
> circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and
> the antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end
> of the board.
>
> Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If
> there is enough interest, I will give it a try.
>
> Thanks and 73,
> Tony KB9YIG
>
>
>
>

----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

Several have recently expressed an interest in the original SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power form the USB port.

Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the board.

Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there is enough interest, I will give it a try.

Thanks and 73,
Tony KB9YIG

Joel Black

I would rather have SMT. Joel - W4JBB

Message 8 of 22
, Dec 2, 2011

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I would rather have SMT.

Joel - W4JBB

On 12/2/2011 9:48 AM, Tony Parks wrote:

A couple additional thoughts...

If a new SoftRock-40 kit is done, the design would mostly be SMT
for resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. Probably the only
non-SMT components would be the crystal, inductor and
transformer. (Inductor and transformer would continue to be user
wound on toroid cores.)

A two foot long stereo audio cable would be included in the kit
where the cable would have a 3.5mm plug on one end. A two foot
long length of coax cable would also be included in the kit.

Kit price would depend on the number of crystals to be included
but probably would be around $23 with crystals for 160m through
20m.

Several have recently expressed an interest in the original
SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC
power form the USB port.

Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt
regulator circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the
narrow board and the antenna and stereo audio connections would
be on the other end of the board.

Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If
there is enough interest, I will give it a try.

Thanks and 73,
Tony KB9YIG

Gordon JC Pearce

On Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:35:33 -0600 ... Seconded! I don t have the patience or enthusiasm to work on complicated, fiddly through-hole parts, and I no longer

I would certainly be interested in a mostly-SMD Softrock in this form factor. I d most likely want to build it as a K2 panadaptor (4.9xx center frequency). --

Message 12 of 22
, Dec 4, 2011

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I would certainly be interested in a mostly-SMD Softrock in this form factor. I'd most likely want to build it as a K2 panadaptor (4.9xx center frequency).
-- Bill, AB1AV

--- In softrock40@yahoogroups.com, Tony Parks <kb9yig@...> wrote:
>
> A couple additional thoughts...
>
> If a new SoftRock-40 kit is done, the design would mostly be SMT for
> resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. Probably the only non-SMT
> components would be the crystal, inductor and transformer. (Inductor
> and transformer would continue to be user wound on toroid cores.)
>
> A two foot long stereo audio cable would be included in the kit where
> the cable would have a 3.5mm plug on one end. A two foot long length of
> coax cable would also be included in the kit.
>
> Kit price would depend on the number of crystals to be included but
> probably would be around $23 with crystals for 160m through 20m.
>
> 73,
> --
>
> Tony Parks
> kb9yig@...
> http://www.kb9yig.com
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, 2011-12-02 at 13:06 +0000, Tony Parks wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Good Morning All,
> >
> > Several have recently expressed an interest in the original
> > SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power
> > form the USB port.
> >
> > Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator
> > circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the
> > antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the
> > board.
> >
> > Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there
> > is enough interest, I will give it a try.
> >
> > Thanks and 73,
> > Tony KB9YIG
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Dale

Tony, this would be a great group project for my club. Dale

Message 13 of 22
, Dec 4, 2011

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Tony, this would be a great group project for my club. Dale

--- In softrock40@yahoogroups.com, Tony Parks <kb9yig@...> wrote:
>
> A couple additional thoughts...
>
> If a new SoftRock-40 kit is done, the design would mostly be SMT for
> resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. Probably the only non-SMT
> components would be the crystal, inductor and transformer. (Inductor
> and transformer would continue to be user wound on toroid cores.)
>
> A two foot long stereo audio cable would be included in the kit where
> the cable would have a 3.5mm plug on one end. A two foot long length of
> coax cable would also be included in the kit.
>
> Kit price would depend on the number of crystals to be included but
> probably would be around $23 with crystals for 160m through 20m.
>
> 73
> --
>
> Tony Parks
> kb9yig@...
> http://www.kb9yig.com
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, 2011-12-02 at 13:06 +0000, Tony Parks wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Good Morning All,
> >
> > Several have recently expressed an interest in the original
> > SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power
> > form the USB port.
> >
> > Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator
> > circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the
> > antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the
> > board.
> >
> > Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there
> > is enough interest, I will give it a try.
> >
> > Thanks and 73,
> > Tony KB9YIG
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

--- In softrock40@yahoogroups.com, Tony Parks <kb9yig@...> wrote:
>
> A couple additional thoughts...
>
> If a new SoftRock-40 kit is done, the design would mostly be SMT for
> resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. Probably the only non-SMT
> components would be the crystal, inductor and transformer. (Inductor
> and transformer would continue to be user wound on toroid cores.)
>
> A two foot long stereo audio cable would be included in the kit where
> the cable would have a 3.5mm plug on one end. A two foot long length of
> coax cable would also be included in the kit.
>
> Kit price would depend on the number of crystals to be included but
> probably would be around $23 with crystals for 160m through 20m.
>
> 73
> --
>
> Tony Parks
> kb9yig@...
> http://www.kb9yig.com
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, 2011-12-02 at 13:06 +0000, Tony Parks wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Good Morning All,
> >
> > Several have recently expressed an interest in the original
> > SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power
> > form the USB port.
> >
> > Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator
> > circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the
> > antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the
> > board.
> >
> > Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there
> > is enough interest, I will give it a try.
> >
> > Thanks and 73,
> > Tony KB9YIG
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

poikaa

You can count me in also, I ve been wanting to build one since they came out but I lost when they were discontinued! 73 Rod KB8DNS

Message 15 of 22
, Dec 4, 2011

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You can count me in also, I've been wanting to build one since they came out but I lost when they were discontinued!

73 Rod KB8DNS

--- In softrock40@yahoogroups.com, "Dale" <ks4ns@...> wrote:
>
> Tony, this would be a great group project for my club. Dale
>
> --- In softrock40@yahoogroups.com, Tony Parks <kb9yig@> wrote:
> >
> > A couple additional thoughts...
> >
> > If a new SoftRock-40 kit is done, the design would mostly be SMT for
> > resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. Probably the only non-SMT
> > components would be the crystal, inductor and transformer. (Inductor
> > and transformer would continue to be user wound on toroid cores.)
> >
> > A two foot long stereo audio cable would be included in the kit where
> > the cable would have a 3.5mm plug on one end. A two foot long length of
> > coax cable would also be included in the kit.
> >
> > Kit price would depend on the number of crystals to be included but
> > probably would be around $23 with crystals for 160m through 20m.
> >
> > 73
> > --
> >
> > Tony Parks
> > kb9yig@
> > http://www.kb9yig.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, 2011-12-02 at 13:06 +0000, Tony Parks wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Good Morning All,
> > >
> > > Several have recently expressed an interest in the original
> > > SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power
> > > form the USB port.
> > >
> > > Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator
> > > circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the
> > > antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the
> > > board.
> > >
> > > Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there
> > > is enough interest, I will give it a try.
> > >
> > > Thanks and 73,
> > > Tony KB9YIG
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>

Tilman D. T

Tony I have built quite a number of SR:s now and think that I would be quite good of you would go down the SMT-route. The old trough hole components are just

Message 16 of 22
, Dec 4, 2011

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Tony

I have built quite a number of SR:s now and think that I would be quite good of you would go down the SMT-route. The old trough hole components are just wasting space (and money). Considering that you already use SMT-type IC:s I would belive that people do not mind
using SMT type rasistors and caps all the way. GOOD MOVE !!
I guess the best SMT size for "amateur use" are of type 1206. Even the capacitors are available with marking on them from some suppliers.

To be perfectly honest I would not mind at all if you would consider
using ready made inductors (SMT-type). It is a bit hard work to wind those very small inductors for the BPF:s.

Having power drawn from the USB is a nice feature of course. Especially if the USB-interface is used to control a Si-570... :-)

Best regards from Sweden / Tilman SM0JZT

>
> A couple additional thoughts...
>
> If a new SoftRock-40 kit is done, the design would mostly be SMT for
> resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. Probably the only non-SMT
> components would be the crystal, inductor and transformer. (Inductor
> and transformer would continue to be user wound on toroid cores.)
>
> A two foot long stereo audio cable would be included in the kit where
> the cable would have a 3.5mm plug on one end. A two foot long length of
> coax cable would also be included in the kit.
>
> Kit price would depend on the number of crystals to be included but
> probably would be around $23 with crystals for 160m through 20m.
>
> 73,
> --
>
> Tony Parks
> kb9yig@...
> http://www.kb9yig.com
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, 2011-12-02 at 13:06 +0000, Tony Parks wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Good Morning All,
> >
> > Several have recently expressed an interest in the original
> > SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power
> > form the USB port.
> >
> > Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator
> > circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the
> > antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the
> > board.
> >
> > Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there
> > is enough interest, I will give it a try.
> >
> > Thanks and 73,
> > Tony KB9YIG
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Jasmine Strong

You can even get ferrite toroid inductors with SMT tabs these days. I imagine their performance is quite good; after all they are used in many cellphones,

Message 17 of 22
, Dec 4, 2011

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You can even get ferrite toroid inductors with SMT tabs these days. I imagine their performance is quite good; after all they are used in many cellphones, which are software defined radios with bandwidth and sensitivity far in excess of what's available on softrock.

-J.

On 4 Dec 2011, at 22:13, Tilman D. T wrote:

Tony

I have built quite a number of SR:s now and think that I would be quite good of you would go down the SMT-route. The old trough hole components are just wasting space (and money). Considering that you already use SMT-type IC:s I would belive that people do not mind
using SMT type rasistors and caps all the way. GOOD MOVE !!
I guess the best SMT size for "amateur use" are of type 1206. Even the capacitors are available with marking on them from some suppliers.

To be perfectly honest I would not mind at all if you would consider
using ready made inductors (SMT-type). It is a bit hard work to wind those very small inductors for the BPF:s.

Having power drawn from the USB is a nice feature of course. Especially if the USB-interface is used to control a Si-570... :-)

Best regards from Sweden / Tilman SM0JZT

>
> A couple additional thoughts...
>
> If a new SoftRock-40 kit is done, the design would mostly be SMT for
> resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. Probably the only non-SMT
> components would be the crystal, inductor and transformer. (Inductor
> and transformer would continue to be user wound on toroid cores.)
>
> A two foot long stereo audio cable would be included in the kit where
> the cable would have a 3.5mm plug on one end. A two foot long length of
> coax cable would also be included in the kit.
>
> Kit price would depend on the number of crystals to be included but
> probably would be around $23 with crystals for 160m through 20m.
>
> 73,
> --
>
> Tony Parks
> kb9yig@...
> http://www.kb9yig.com
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, 2011-12-02 at 13:06 +0000, Tony Parks wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Good Morning All,
> >
> > Several have recently expressed an interest in the original
> > SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power
> > form the USB port.
> >
> > Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator
> > circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the
> > antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the
> > board.
> >
> > Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there
> > is enough interest, I will give it a try.
> >
> > Thanks and 73,
> > Tony KB9YIG
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Eric Söderman

Hi, I agree what others have said that surface mount components would be nice to be used as much as possible. If SMD inductors could be used and not costing

Message 18 of 22
, Dec 4, 2011

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Hi,

I agree what others have said that surface mount components would be
nice to be used as much as possible. If SMD inductors could be used
and not costing too much and give ok performance that would be good
also. But I see a problem that you want to supply kits where the
builder can choose different bands to build for, than there would be a
large waste (and cost) of components not used...

Another idea that I had was if it would be possible to include sound
card on board? I remember I read an article in Radcom a while ago
about an IC that included more or less everything (just a crystal and
a few capacitors needed if I remember correctly). Maybe this IC (that
I don´t remember the name of) is not suitable for SDR (unknown if
stereo or what sample rate). Anyway, maybe there are other options
too?

It would be really cool with only USB connection and antenna
connection. But maybe it would even be possible to make this optional
and route the audio connectors too for those that want to use other
sound card.

> Several have recently expressed an interest in the original SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB socket to take DC power form the USB port.
>
> Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5 volt regulator circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end of the narrow board and the antenna and stereo audio connections would be on the other end of the board.
>
> Would there be an interest in an updated version of that kit? If there is enough interest, I will give it a try.

Sid Boyce

The Mobo is shipped with both SMT inductors and toroids. The SMT ones are said to be of a much lower Q factor but I hadn t noticed any big differences between

Message 19 of 22
, Dec 5, 2011

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The Mobo is shipped with both SMT inductors and toroids. The SMT
ones are said to be of a much lower Q factor but I hadn't noticed
any big differences between the two, so the differences may be more
measured than perceived in most cases.

There are SMT XTALS, some have to be oriented correctly, which is
easily pointed out to the builder.

SMT looks daunting before you've done one. It is no big deal and a
big saver of time. The only added investment is a good fine tipped
soldering iron, an eye loop or magnifying lamp and a decent pair of
tweezers to securely grip parts as if they ping out of a cheap pair,
they'll never again be seen unless it's your lucky day.
73 ... Sid.

On 05/12/11 07:15, Eric Söderman wrote:

Hi,

I agree what others have said that surface mount
components would be
nice to be used as much as possible. If SMD inductors
could be used
and not costing too much and give ok performance that
would be good
also. But I see a problem that you want to supply kits
where the
builder can choose different bands to build for, than
there would be a
large waste (and cost) of components not used...

Another idea that I had was if it would be possible to
include sound
card on board? I remember I read an article in Radcom a
while ago
about an IC that included more or less everything (just a
crystal and
a few capacitors needed if I remember correctly). Maybe
this IC (that
I don´t remember the name of) is not suitable for SDR
(unknown if
stereo or what sample rate). Anyway, maybe there are other
options
too?

It would be really cool with only USB connection and
antenna
connection. But maybe it would even be possible to make
this optional
and route the audio connectors too for those that want to
use other
sound card.

> Several have recently expressed an interest in the
original SoftRock-40 design that plugged into a PC USB
socket to take DC power form the USB port.
>
> Basically it would be the Lite II circuit, less the 5
volt regulator circuit. A USB-A plug would be on one end
of the narrow board and the antenna and stereo audio
connections would be on the other end of the board.
>
> Would there be an interest in an updated version of
that kit? If there is enough interest, I will give it a
try.